Has anyone tried this? I have a friend who is a psychologist and also a life coach and I've been working with him for about one year now. It's been the most rewarding thing I've ever done for myself and has totally changed my outlook on myself and life in general, all for the positive. He always maintained that what you think about, you bring about and I've come to realize just how true this is.

Would love to hear from anyone who's either taken life coaching or is a life coach themselves.

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I've been an executive life coach for many years, mostly senior executives for Fortune 100, or those in the medical & psychological field, men and women who recognize the value of personal growth & spiritual development, especially in the area of romantic relationships. The dating scene has substantially changed and I want to be offering the most pertinent information I can to what everyone is wanting now. Let me know what you think...

Great topic! I'm a life coach and I agree with focusing on the outcome you want and then aligning your goals and working backwards. I've seen several clients benefit from this perspective.
Warmest Wishes to all of you.

I'm a Life Coach and find it very satisfying when clients are able to reach for and attain goals they desire in work, relationships, unshared dreams, etc.

There are coaching books also by Cheryl Richardson (Life Makeovers and other books) and Talane Miedaner (Coach Yourself to Success) that are very helpful. I also like books like Shimoff's Happy for No Reason, and Hicks' Ask and It Is Given (based on the Law of Attraction). I'd be happy to send anyone pages of quotes from 30 books I've explored in monthly discussions at my home in Seattle. So even if you only want info (I LOVE sharing resources), send me a note and ask for the attachment on philosophical books, or ask for resources I've gathered on Nonviolent (Compassionate) Communication. Moreah

01MoreChance write: Hi - I am a certified life coach. If you look on ICF or the International Coach Federation site, you can see the requirements for international certification. There are three levels that you can achieve, and they are outlined quite well on the site. I attend Coach U which is one of the places you can become qualified to be certified internationally. Not sure if you are still interested Ready4unow cause this blog is old. I live in Toronto so you could get in touch with me easily if you want to! Lorna

Re:

Hey 01MoreChance!

Thanks so much for your informative post! I did respond privately via email, hope you got it? MM has a knack for losing emails out into cyberspace lol!

I'de be extremly interested if anyone knows the answer to this as I've never known any life coach to display their qualifications ie Anthony Robbins, zig Ziglar etc....

Anyone know the answer ???

Hi Cleopatra!

No I have not looked into this any further, but it would appear many life coaches come from varying walks of life. There doesn't seem to be a "standard" per se, just seems that many are motivational speakers, some are trained in psychology or psychiatry, but I've not really looked into their actual qualifications. I can't think of a more gratifying profession than helping others get their lives back on track. So many live disengaged and unempowered & it really doesn't have to be that way.

I will contact you to discuss your previous offer, just need to schedule some time & send a private email to you.

I like this part of the site. No hassles and you really take something home from the heart.

I have a friend who is constantly asking me to visit a life coach. I see the significance in it. But at the moment I need to work out some things to be sure of my directions.

Fortunate for me I am at a point in my life to really know when I have reached an obstacle to seek help with a sense of open-mindness.

I do however like hearing inspiring stories on how others have found direction. I always keep the inspiration in mind.

Thanks for the positive messages

Hi Cee4paris!

Thanks for your post & compliment about this being a "positive" post, not much of that going around lately!

You mentioned your friend recommending a life coach for you & that you need to work out a few things before being sure of your directions - this is actually where life coaching comes in handy, it helps you decide which direction to take. I'm so glad you are at a point in your life where you feel like you can identify blocks, just being aware is more than half the battle.

Yes I too am sometimes feeling blocked & my coach says I have an amazing mind, but it can work for me and against me. I can sometimes apply what I've learned to certain areas of my life, but not necessarily all. It's a conscious decision or choice as to what I choose to apply it to. Quite often I'm assigned a certain book to read, or an assignment from my coach & for some reason, I procrastinate until the day before my next phone session with him before doing it. I'm a natural procrastinator but have really been trying to schedule getting certain tasks done & sticking to it. I asked him today why I do this, it does make me crazy not getting it done, yet I don't do it??? He says it's because I don't want to do it & therefore my subconscious mind recognizes my not wanting to do it & I don't. He suggests journaling on a daily basis, not just jotting down a few notes, but actually writing an entire page or more. Apparently the act of writing causes a relaxation to take place, the mind then readily absorbs what you're writing & the subconscious has a much clearer, better chance of truly being aware. I also fight the journaling, but it's amazing when I force myself to do it, it just flows & flows. Most importantly, when you go back and read your journal, a pattern becomes much more noticeable after writing for a while & you can sometimes clearly see what was bothering you at the time & you can identify what your block was. Write down everything that happened that day whether it was how you felt about something, what you ate, what you accomplished or didn't, etc. Nothing is too trivial & it doesn't matter what order you record it in.

I've learned to just trust the process & my coach & must say it's been very life changing for me in a most positive way. The absolute very best is when I've learned a lesson & then passed it on to someone else & they then experience it later on & tell me about it & make the connection to what I was originally describing. Our thoughts are extremely powerful & it's amazing how we can hold ourselves back just with thoughts! Never mind that these thoughts may not have happened yet, probably 90% never will, yet many react as if it's fact & then act accordingly. I rarely worry anymore because I realize what I'm worrying about are just thoughts, not reality & most often don't even affect the outcome. What a gift not to worry! I also look at life as one big lab experiment & now look forward to seeing what lessons are to be learned, totally different outlook than I previously had. It's very exciting to learn what makes one tick & how to modify it for the better.

For me it's quite often been negative self talk that was holding me back & just being aware of those negative thoughts allows me to catch myself, change the thought or entirely get rid of a particular thought and move on with a positive thought. I tend to not watch much news because it's pretty much all negative, I don't watch depressing or sad shows or movies & again make a conscious decision to surround myself with positives whether it be people, shows, books, etc. It's all about outlook that's for sure!

Hope you get past that block, and know it's only temporary, you'll figure it out!

Hi Ready, I practice meditiation and always on a quest for more self-awareness & self-improvement. I really like what you said about changing your thoughts... I've recently been feeling 'blocked' and haven't been able to get in touch with what is blocking me..I'm reading a book about "Focusing" and can't seem to get the concept...any feedback would be appreciated..

I find simply being able to speak freely to somebody without feeling reproachment helps VERY much. It is sometimes hard for me to let things go, but once I talk about it with someone...I see how silly it really is to hold onto. That helps myself to be positive. :)

Hi Ready, It may have been partially that your memory got lazy since you hadn't used it in awhile. But it may be something else. We all have different ways we learn: visual, audio, kinesthetic.

You may employ one of more of the above methods. But if you are not an audio learner, lengthy lectures will be lost on you...hence you must take good notes, so you may go back and read what you initially heard. If you are a visual learner, you will learn by reading the information. If you are a kinesthetic learner, you will learn best by doing...not everything can be performed.
If we have a combination of these learning methods, sometimes one can be much stronger causing others to be a handicap.
You sound like you are a visual learner. I am also. Audio is my handicap, I need to see it in writing. When in courses, I take lots of notes.

len710 write: I've just gone back to school after being out for quite a while. It's a little overwhelming. I'd be interested in trying something like this... I'm sure it would help

Hi Len!

It does get overwhelming when you've been away from schooling & just get back into it. I took a night school course many years after being in school, paid close attention to what was being covered in class, reread what we'd covered in class as I was riding home on the subway, but realized it was like the first time I'd seen this info! I was shocked & spoke to my teacher who told me we use a specific part of the brain for memory retention, and when not frequently used, it gets lazy & memorization is not so easily done. I guess the old saying "If you don't use it, you lose it" holds true.

As far as the overwhelmed feeling, quite often it's your own inner self talk that's to blame. Many tell themselves they aren't capable, I'll never get it, etc. The life coaching taught me to really be aware of negative self talk so I could adjust my thoughts & stop doing this. You're more than capable, keep persevering & you'll do very well. Give yourself kudos for trying & accomplishing! Best of luck!

len710 write: I've just gone back to school after being out for quite a while. It's a little overwhelming. I'd be interested in trying something like this... I'm sure it would help

len,
It would be the best thing you have done for yourself and will be enormously proud when you have completed it.. I know, I did my MA in Japanese and Chinese Modern Lit , a completely different discipline from my first degree in Law..when I was in my 40s and was doing my final exam when my husband was dying of cancer..yet it was the most constructive project I have taken on which helped me thru the hardest times of my life...I was glad I stuck with it and did not give up even when I had all the reasons to..intellectual challenges at a mature age could do wonders in restoring our own confidence and gives us lots of self-esteem esp when you have to compete with kids half your age, that also means you are mingling with a whole new group of friends of a different age range..go for it..even if you fail you know you had the courage to attempt and try...good luck!!

len710 write: I've just gone back to school after being out for quite a while. It's a little overwhelming. I'd be interested in trying something like this... I'm sure it would help

Believe in yourself, apply yourself, and you can do anything.
I know how you feel. A couple of years ago, someone recommended I take a specific political science course. So I registered for it. Have no idea how I was accepted, because it was a 3rd year course and I hadn't take the 1st & 2nd yr prerequisites! I found out about 3/4's thru the course when some fellow asked a question & the Prof replied, "This is a 3rd yr University course, if you don't know the answer to that by now, you shouldn't be here!"
Earlier, about two weeks prior to the mid-term I intended to drop out. After missing a week of classes, I emailed my prof to let him know. He called me and talked me into staying. I wanted to quit, because I was intimidated by the thought of writing a 20 pg single spaced research report due at the end of the course. I hadn't written one of that length in 20 yrs. I stuck with it. I did it, and finished with an 88%. Considering I hadn't taken the prerequisites...I was happy with that mark. Good luck to you.